Vehicle body



July 1943- R. CADWALLADER 2,324,677

VEHICLE BODY Filed May 1'7, 1939 6 Sheets-Shet l INVENTOK A TTORNEY5- July 20, 1943.

VEHICLE BODY Filed May 17,, 1939 Y 6 Sheets-Sheet A TTORNEY5.

R. CADWALLADER 0 2,324,677

V W NVENTOR..

7 July 20, 1943. R. QADWALLADER 2,324,677

VEHICLE BODY Filed May 17, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS.

. July 20; 194 R. CADWALLADER VEHICLE BODY Filed May 17. 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

(/waZ/( Q u 1943- R. CADWALLADER 2,324,677:

VEHICLE BODY Filed May 17. 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

' 2 02512 d/WdZZ 416/:

A TTORNEYS.

July 20, 1 4 R. CAIZ-IJWALLADER VEHICLE BODY Filed May 17, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 5634 @Q /frr ATTORNEY5.

Patented July 20, 1943 VEHICLE BODY f RobertCadwallader, Detroit, Mich., assignor to I Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich, a

corporation of Delaware 7 Application M i 17, 1939, Serial No. 274,243

4 Claims. (Cl. 296-28) This invention relates; to vehicles and refers more particularly to improvements in motor vehicles. k

One object of my invention is to provide an improved motor vehicle of relatively light weight and having improved characteristics of strength and rigidity. p

A further object of my invention is .to provide an improved body structulre arranged to efficiently absorband distribute thestresses ,i ncident to the motor vehicle load and road shocks without the use of an internal frame.

Another object of my inventionis to pro 'de improved means for transferring. a portion of the load at the front of the vehicle directly to the body structure enabling the use of ya. frame structure as such to be dispensed with p I preferably provide a body having aqstressed skin suitably reinforced to absorb the loads transmitted thereto incident to 1 the driving of the vehicle. Front and rear subframes are provided to facilitate mounting of 1 Suspension springs and to suitably strengthen thebodyat these points and struts are provided between the front portion of the forward sub-frame, in proximity to the front wheel load supports. and the the struts to the columns and roof rails which extend rearwardly fromthe columns. near the top of the vehicle body structure. As an important feature of this part of my invention, these struts are removable for. ease .of assembly and replacement. e j

An additional .object of my invention, in its more limited aspects, is to providea; removable front end vehicle unit capable of attachment during assembly with themain body portion-of the vehicle. This unit preferably supports the power plant, front wheel assemblies and parts incident thereto. The body unit preferably is a unitary structure of built-1 p panels and reinforcing elements and it has no separate frame or chassis. This type of multipleunit construction eliminates the present long chassis assembly line since the vehicle is divided into two main v parts,.the body unit and the: power plant unit;

car, I preferably provide for an improved fabrication or connection between the front and rear sub-frame portions whether the body is attached to the rear sub-frame portion or built up as a unitary structure therewith.

Further objects and advantages of my inven-' tion reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts as more particularly hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings L which illustrate several embodiments of my invention and in which:

Fig. l is a sectional elevational View of :the forward portion of the vehicle body and frame.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view of the rear portion of theyehicle body a'nd frame.

Fig. -3. is a sectional'view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing'the joint between the radiator shell and headlight panel. i

Fig. 4 'is a sectional view ,along line 4-4 of Fig. 1 showing the construction of the cowl portion ofthe body. T V Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the floor and tunnel construct'ion atthis point. L Fig. 6 is a sectional view along linef6 of Fig. 1 showing the bracing at this point. "Fig. 'lfisga detail of the roof and pillar constructi'o'ri at the front of the vehicle, as indicated by thearrow designated 1 in Fig. l. Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8 ofFig. 2 showing the rear seat supporting structure and bracing.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view along line 99 of Fig. 2 'showing the fuel tank mounting means. Fig. 1 0 is a plan viewflof, the floor structure. Fig. 11 is a sectional View along the line H I I of Fig. 10. l "Fig...12 isan enlarged detail view of the rear bumper bracket. l Fig. 13 isfan enlarged sectional detail of the shock absorber mounting. bracket taken along the line i3--I3' of Fig. l. Fig.114 is an enlarged sectional View taken along the line M-H of Fig. 10. Fig. 15.15 a detail section of the roof construetion taken along the line I5-l5 of Fig. 1.

By reason of my. invention .the vehicle is less costly to fabricate, assemblepservi'ce, repair and ship. While many of the improvements incident to my invention may be realized by extending the Vehicle frame for the full length of the Fig. 16 is a detail of the rear fender construction. Fig. l'l is a section along the line (T -l1 of Fig. 1 6.. (Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated my invention as comprising a forward unit A and a rear unit B. In this embodiment .of my invention thefront unit preferably embodies a frame structure C adapted to support a power plant (not shown) which, as is now customary, may comprise engine, radiator, clutch and transmission.

has the main side longitudinal rails 54 of box section form, connected at suitable points by the cross members |5, |6 for bracing the side rails and supporting the power plant. Frame C is yieldingly supported on ground wheels by any appropriate means such as axle i9 and the side spring assemblies 2|] shackled to rails I4. The power plant is enclosed by a hood structure 2| adapted to conform with the forwardly projecting cowl paneling of rear unit B as will presently be more apparent.

*The rear ends of rails I4 are T-shaped as shown in Fig. 10 and are connected by bolts l8 to the vertical flange 22 of the inclined floor board 23, the rails |4 being preferably set inwardly from the ends of member 22. Channeled corner braces 23 suitably reinforce the structure at this point at indicated in Fig. 10.

The body unit B is somewhat diagrammatically shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as a four-door sedan style although it will be understood that various body styles may be employed. This unit is illustrated as comprising a built-up composite frame and body having the bottom side sills 24 connected at their front ends by welding to a rearwardly opening channeled cross member 25. The member 25 is connected to the upper face of a sill 24 and to the respective frame member l4 thereby making a rigid construction at this point.

The unit B, in addition to the sills 24, is further provided with compression resisting top longitudinals or rails of any suitable fabrication, these top members being generally designated at 30 and preferably extending rearwardly from the windshield corner posts 3| to receive the load at or in proximity to the rear wheel spring supports 32 through the reinforcing rails 33 and 34. A further brace 35 connects intermediate portions of each sill 24 and a top rail 30, the vertical braces 35 serving as door posts while top rails 30 support the usual body roof.

The forward ends of sills 24 and rails 36 are further connected by the front door column or post 3| of any well known structure rearwardly adjacent the c'owl structure 36, each roof rail 30 extending forwardly and downwardly to provide the aforesaid post 3|, the latter then further extending forwardly and downwardly by a channeled cowl portion 31 adapted for connection, preferably by welding, to the transversely extending dash structure 38. To this end, the forwardly terminating end of each rail portion 3'! is secured at 39 to the dash 33. It will be noted that posts 3| branch near the bottom of the windshield to provide lower columns 3| and forwardly extending windshield post projections 37. Columns 3| may be made of relatively light structural formation of any suitable fabrication.

In order to complete the truss-like body structure so that a portion of the load at rails I4 is transmitted during normal loading conditions directly to the roof rails 30, I have provided a channeled compression strut 4| at each side of the vehicle. Each strut is structurally connected at its lower end to a rail I4 and at its upper end to dash 38 at 39. While struts 4| may be built into the vehicle as extensions of rail portions 31, it is a feature of my invention in a more limited the power plant and to facilitate assembly and manufacture of the vehicle especially where units A and B are adapted for separate assembly.

' Will struts 4| are angled at 42 parallel to the indented portion 43 of the cowl for removable connection thereto by one or more bolts which also extend through webs 39 of rail cowl portions 3! as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

It will be noted that each strut 4| is structurally continuous with the associated rail portion 31 so that loads transferred through the struts pass directly to the roof rails. The struts 4| slope forwardly and downwardly, preferably in approximate axial alignment with rail portions 31 for connection with the rails M respectively. In the Fig. 1 embodiment, the struts connect with the rails near their forward ends, each strut having its terminal end welded in a socket 48 which is in turn welded to the rail I4.

By reason of such arrangement, much of the bending in rails 4 caused by the vertical load through the supports for springs 20 is taken by the strut 4| acting in compression and transferring this load portion directly through rail portions 31, 3| thence along the main portions of roof rails to the rear sub-frame rails 49 through brace structures 33 and 34. Wheel shock loads on the front sub-frame Will be similarly distributed in part through the body structure as well as head-on collision forces.

The radiator shell assembly comprises a centrally disposed shell member 50 having an opening 5| for the reception of a suitable grille (not shown). The member 50 has a rearwardly disposed ledge 53 on which the engine compartment hood 29 is adapted to seat and a downwardly extending flange 55 which is adapted to mate with a complementary flange of the side shell member 52 to which it is fastened by suitable means such as the stove bolts 55'. The member 52 is secured by fastening means 21 to the front wheel housing member 28 and has a ledge 54 in registry with the ledge 53.

The member 28 is suitably attached to the front end of the rail l4 and to the lower indented portion 56 of the cowl structure and has a brace member 51 (Fig. 13) bolted thereto by bolts 58 which also secure a bracket '59 to the wheel housing' structure. The brace member 51 is bolted at its lower end to the strut 4| by bolts 60 to reinforce the wheel house structure to Withstand the thrust of a shock absorber 6|. The latter is of the well known direct action type and is pivotally secured at 62 to the bracket 59 and at 63 to the axle 9.

The wheel house member 28 has an upwardly extending flange portion 28' to which the fender 29' is bolted by bolts 29" and which forms a seat for the lower edge of the hood 29 as illustrated in Fig. 13.

i The cowl structure is braced near the rear end of thera-ils I4 by a pair of braces 64 (see Figs. 1 and 6). Each brace 64 has a web portion 65 which is bent flush with the vertical portion of the dash 38 to which it is secured by bolts 66. The other end of brace 54 is welded to each leg of a U-shaped bracket 61 bolted to the rail H by bolts (P8. The braces 64 further rigidify the front assembly and help transmit and distribute the compressive forces incident to the thrust of the front road wheels upwardly through the downwardly terminating in a flange I2.

member shield I which is of the well known V-type. An instrument panel II is welded to the top cowl panel 69 at H and extends rearwardly and A strut I3 bolted at I4 to the indented portion 43 of the side cowl structure is secured at its other end to the flange I2 and braces the panel II at each side thereof.

The forward door post 3| is secured at the bottom thereof to the bottom body sill 24 and has a triangular brace member I5 which connects the post 3I, cowl 36 and sill 24 at this point. r

The lower body sill 24 has a channel-shaped internal reinforcing member 16 coextensive therewith. The sill 2'4 terminates rearwardly at the bottom of the rear door post TI to which it is secured as shown in Figs. 2 and 10.

The top rail extends rearwardly and downwardly at the rear quarter portion of the body, the reinforcing rail 33 being welded to the strut 34 at I9 as aforesaid. At the top of the front door pillar 3| (see Fig. '7) the member 33 is welded thereto, together with the transversely extending header member 80. The front roof quarter panel 8| and the side roof quarter panel I8 are joined to each other, and to the header 80 and member 33 and are braced in the vicinity of the front corner of the body by a pair of triangular brace members 83 as shown in Figs. 1 and '7.

The roof quarter panels and 8| have a continuous channeled flange 82 which is adapted to receive the marginal flange of a roof panel 81 as shown in Fig. 8.

Figs. 2. and illustrate details of the roof bracing means which comprises a. plurality of I transverse brace members spaced longitudinally of the body between the top rails. The front brace member 84 is continuous While the others consist of a central brace member 06 secured at each of its ends to a member 85 welded to the roof quarter panel I8 and to; the reinforcing channel 33 as indicated in Fig, 15. The members 85 and 83 have reduced overlapping portions secured together at 87, said reduced portions providing a recess for receiving the roof joint flange I8 as shown in Fig. 8.

The lower body sills 24 each have a reinforcing member I6 of channel form welded thereto. A drive shaft tunnel 90 is disposed longitudinally of the body passenger carrying compartment and r is attached to the dash 38 at its front end from whence it inclines downwardly and extends rearwardly to the vicinity of therear seat back support 95 where it terminates, in a bump which accommodates the rear axle differential housing (not shown). The tunnel 90 has a removal panel 92 at its front end to permit servicing of the vehicle clutch.

The floor consists of a pair of front compartment panels 88, 89 which are welded to the tunnel co and the members I6, as shown in Fig. 5, and extend rearwardly to the vicinity of the door pillar 35 (Figs. 10 and 11). The panels 88, 89 terminate at the sides of the body in the front seat cushion supporting portions 96, 96' respectively between which is provided the depressed portions HI, 9| at each side of the tunnel 90. The portions 9|, 9| are adapted to accommodate the feet of the rear seat passengers. A second pair of floor panels 88', 89' extend from the rear of the front seat support to the rear seat back cushion support 95 as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 10. The front portion of the rear seat cushion (not shown) is adapted to be supported on the 93 which extends transversely across the body at the rear door pillars l1 and reinforces the body structure at this location. The member 93 is welded to the pillars TI, to the tunnel 90 and to the floor panels 88, 89, as shown in Figs. 8 and 10, and at each side it is connected to the rear Wheel-house 91 by welding to the members 06 which have a flange 96 welded to the wheel houses along the curvature thereof.

The rear of the body in the vicinity of the rear seat back is further strengthened by the transverse X-brace members 99 which are welded to the member 95 at I00, and to the members 93 at NH. The members 96 are also connected by the member 98 which extends across the body at the top of the rear seat back supporting structure and forms the front support for a shelf I02 which is supported at the rear by a pair of brackets I63 which are welded thereto and to the flange I04 of the rear window, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 9.

The members 33, 95, as well as the other brace and reinforcing members of the body structure, are provided with suitable beads during the stamping operation to increase their strength and stiffness.

In rear of the rear seat back supporting and body reinforcing structures,v a rear compartment floor panel I20 extends to the rear of the subframe sills 49 where it terminates in a downwardly bent flange I22. The rear outer body panel I05 curves downwardly over the rear compartrnent and terminates at the bottom thereof in a flange III? which is joined to the flange I22.

' The structure is reinforced at each side by a bracket I23 welded to the flange I22 (Fig. 12) and bolted to the inner flange of the channel por tion of the sill it by bolts I22 which also pass through the floor panel I20. The brackets I23 also supportthe rear bumper I25 through the intermediary of the struts I24 which are bolted to the brackets as shown.

Therear of the body is further reinforced at the corners by the brackets 32 which are attached to the flange I22 and the sill 40 (Figs. 2 and .9) and support the rear spring shackle I I2. 1 The rear springs I it are fastened to the body at their forward ends by brackets Hi attached to the forward ends of the sills 49 at the lower ends of the rear pillars ll. The rear axle II3 is supported on the body by the springs Hi; to which it is attached by the usual U-boits. The rear shocks absorbers H4 are pivotally attached to the spring plates I26 at I21 and are pivotally connected at their top ends to a bracket IIG mounted on the member 35. An inclined brace H6 is welded to the member and to the sill as at this location on each side of the member 95 to strengthen the structure sufficiently to withtand the thrust of the shock absorbers. A rub- 'ber grommet H5 is provided in the floor panel I20 at each side thereof to permit movement of the shock absorbers and seal the rear compartment upon the entry of dust and water.

Access to the rear compartment may be had through the door I06 hinged at I0I to the rear panel I05. At the bottom of the door I06 a plurality of braces I30 are welded to the floor panel I20 and to the bottom portion of the outer rear body panel I05 for strengthening purposes.

A bump I2I is provided in the panel I20 to accommodate the fuel tank I28 which is retained in place by the usual straps I29 (Figs. 2, 9 and 10).

Just forwardly of the shock absorbers II4, a pair of brackets II'I (Fig. 14) are attached to the Sills 19 by bolts H8, and support bumper blocks A i 9 which are adapted to contact the upper leaf of each spring no upon extreme upward movement of the axle I I3.

Referring now to Figs. 16 and 17 which illustrate a portion of the outer body at the rear wheel, it will be noted that the rear fender comprises a main portion I3| and a separable forward portion I32. The latter consists of a metal backing member B3 to which is attached (by cementing or vulcanizing or other suitable means) a rubber guard element I34. Member [3! has a depressed flange I35 to which the portion I32 is attached by the bolts I35. The entire assembly is suitably fastened to the outer marginal portion of the rear wheel house 9'! as is common. While running boards may be used on the herein described body, they are unnecessary for easy ingress and egress because of the low floor. The rubber element l3 i therefore acts as a stone guard and protects the fender from damage by flying stones and gravel thrown upwardly during travel of the car.

It will be apparent that I have provided a body wherein a truss construction is employed to resist the force applied by the road wheels through rugged, yet light weight, structural members in which the primary stresses are simple tension and/ or compression stresses, the severe bending stresses present in conventional types of bodies being largely eliminated. Thus, the body longitudinal lower side sills are in tension and the forward and rear inclined strut members as well as the roof members are in compression when a static load is on the wheels.

The spring reactions are transmitted to, and absorbed in, the body structure in an improved manner, the front spring reaction and engine loads being transmitted directly through the upwardly and rearwardly inclined members 37, 4! and 84 to the front door pillars 3| and top rails 30. The body skin or shell, in many instances, is constructed to take a portion of the loads, thereby minimizing the body weight.

By dispensing with the conventional chassis rails and transmitting the driving stresses directly to the body structure, a lighter and more economical, yet rugged, body is the result.

By providing a two-piece body structure with an easily separable front end, the vehicle is more easily repaired and serviced, and the vehicle may be assembled in two part then shipped to a distant point for assembly into a complete vehicle if desired.

Various modifications and changes will readily be apparent from the teachings of my invention and it is not intended to limit the same to the foregoing illustrative embodiment, the invention in its broader aspects being defined in the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. In a motor vehicle body structure having a cowl structure forwardly of the drivers compartment, an engine and wheel supporting frame extending forwardly of said cowl structure; said cowl structure comprising a stamping having a transverse dash portion and inwardly offset portions at each side thereof; a strut member structurally connecting each of said offset portions and said frame at each side of said body structure; and an additional strut member structurally connecting said dash and said frame at each side of said body structure.

2. In a motor vehicle body structure having a drivers compartment, pillars at each side of the forward end of said compartment; a transverse brace member interconnecting said pillars; a cowl structure forwardly of said compartment; an engine and wheel supporting frame extending forwardly of said cowl structure; said cowl structure having inwardly offset portions at each side thereof; a strut member structurally connecting each of said offset portions and said frame at each side of said body structure, and additional strut members structurally connecting said offset portions and said transverse brace member.

3. In a motor vehicle, a strut type body structure; a frame extending forwardly of said body structure for supporting an engine; a front wheel housing on one side of said frame; means including an axle carried by said frame for yieldingly supporting the front end of said vehicle; a shock absorber connected between said axle and body structure for limiting abnormal displacement of said axle relative to said frame; a rearwardly inclined compression resisting strut rising from said frame structure in the vicinity of said shock absorber for resisting distortion of said fram incident to said abnormal axle displacements; a brace member extending laterally from said inclined strut and connecting said inclined strut and said wheel housing, and means for transmitting the load on said strut to upper portions of said body structure.

4. In a strut type motor vehicle body structure having a drivers compartment and a cowl structure, an engine supporting frame extending forwardly of said compartment; a front wheel housing structure at one side of said frame; a strut member structurally connecting said frame and said cowl structure at one side of said body; a shock absorber connection bracket secured to said wheel housing structure; and a structural reinforcing member interconnecting said wheel housing structure and said strut member in the region of said bracket, whereby the thrust of said shock absorber is distributed through said cow and wheel housing structure.

ROBERT CADW'ALLADER. 

